Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), agreed to at the United Nations (UN) in 2015, were an agenda for global change and sustainability for the next 15 years, but the program made little mention of the potential role of the information and communications technology (ICT) industry. ICT is a key enabler of such widespread change, and this chapter assesses the potential involvement of the ICT industry in the advancement of the SDGs. A review of key reports from major industry entities reveals the significant business opportunities perceived by these ICT companies and highlights the critical role of governments in creating appropriate infrastructures for, and funding of, ICT. The chapter also discusses key issues emerging from these reports in the context of current research in the ICT for Development (ICT4D) field. The rapid pace of technological development may revolutionize how the SDGs will be pursued and achieved around the world, but there are tensions between the imperatives of the SDGs and the pursuit of economic growth.